Golden Flashes Continue to Build Signing Class
12/16/2021 3:23:00 PM | Football
KENT, OHIO- Kent State football, under the direction of head coach Sean Lewis continue to add to their 2022 signing class with the addition of eight signees during the February signing period
With the February class, the Flashes have now signed 26 players to the 2022 class.
AJ CAMPBELL / DL / 6'4" / 245 LBS /OHIO/COPLEY/UCLA
Transfer from UCLA where he redshirted during the 2021 season…Was rated the number 39 weakside defensive end by Rivals, the number 156 overall defensive end by ESPN and the number 188 prospect in Midwest region by ESPN …Contributed 83 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks and two interceptions in 2020 … Named OHSAA Division III All-Ohio Defensive Player of the Year, All-District Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 and Suburban League Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 … Logged 44 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks in 2019; also saw time on offense for Copley High School, recording six touchdowns
CHARLIE DURKIN / K/P / 5'11" / 195 LBS / OHIO /ARCHBISHOP HOBAN
Rated a five-star punter and 4.5-star kicker by Kohl's Kicking who noted his impressive hangtime on punts…Ranked number two punter and number three kicker in Ohio and number 18/36 in the Nation…Averaged 38 yards per punt and went 4/6 on field goals and 58/59 on extra points with a long of 40…Named First-Team All-Ohio…Helped Hoban to the state title game
JOJO EVANS JR. / S / 6'2" / 192 LBS / PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA/PALM BEACH GARDENS/MARSHALL
Transfer from Marshall where he saw action in parts of two seasons…Totaled 21 tackles including 10 solo in 2021…Played high school football at both Dwyer and Palm Beach Gardens…Rated in the "Top-63" by ESPN Palm Beach Gardens in advance of the 2018 season
WILL HRYSZKO /K / 5'10" / 1970 LBS / STRONGSVILLE, OH/STRONGSVILLE
Named Conference Special Teams Player of the Year…Hit 12 of 13 field goals, all 26 of his extra points and recorded 12 touchbacks in 2021…Rated the number 64 kicker in the country by Kohl's Kicking Camps…Rated 4.5 stars by Kohl's who noted his strong leg
NAIJEE JONES/ DB / 6'0" / 205 LBS / CAMDEN, NJ/TIMBERCREEK/RUTGERS
Transfer from Rutgers where he played in 27 games…Totaled 38 tackles and an interception in his Scarlet Knight career with a sack, two passes defended and a forced fumble…Helped Timber Creek to a championship in his junior and senior seasons… Named Third Team All-Group 4 by the Star-Ledger and Third Team All-South Jersey by the Courier-Post as a senior in high school.
AHMAD NALLS/ LB / 6'1" / 230 LBS / EAST ORANGE, N.J. /EAST ORANGE
Played both sides of the ball for East Orange Totaled 137 tackles as a senior, including 102 solo and 24 tackles for loss…He also recorded two interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries…His 100-yards scoop and score helped East Orange to a North Group Five title…He was named to the Jersey Sports Zone All-Defensive Team
ROCCO NICHOLL/ LB / 6'4" / 205 LBS / PHILADELPHIA, PA/SAINT JOSEPH PREP
Dubbed "Weapon X" Nicholl was all over the field in high school. Nicholl started at corner, safety, drop-down safety and linebacker while in high school. Helped the Saint Joseph Hawks to an 11-3 record and berth in the state title game as a senior. Named to the All-Catholic Team by the Philadelphia High School coaches.
KEVIN TOTH JR/ OL / 6'6" / 295 LBS / HUDSON, OH/HUDSON/RUTGERS
Transfer from Rutgers where he redshirted last season… Played along the offensive line for the Explorers ... Helped Hudson to a 9-1 record and an appearance in the OHSAA Division II-Region 5 state semifinal ... Blocked for an offense that rushed for more than 2,600 yards and passed for more than 1,900 yards ... First Team Ohio Prep Sportswriters Division II All-Ohio
In December, the Flashes announced the class of early signees
Josh Baka | Defensive back | 6-1 190 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Baka was rated one of Canada's top prospects and shined both in Canada and in the states playing for Saint Thomas More in Connecticut. He was rated one of the top-10 players in Connecticut, one of two defensive backs to do so.
Oliver Billotte | Defensive line | 6-4 250| Clearfield, PA | Clearfield
Billotte played both quarterback and defensive line for Clearfield but will line up in the trenches for Kent State. He was a dominant force on the line, recording 65 tackles including 25 for loss and 10 sacks in 11 games in 2021 as part of an all-state season. Billotte is also an accomplished wrestler, qualifying for state as part of the Bison wrestling team.
Tyler Bivens | Defensive back | 6-0 160| Ann Arbor, MI | Huron
Helped the River Rats to an 8-2 overall record including a 6-1 record in conference play. Earned an invite to the Rivals Camp in Indianapolis where he was one of the camp's best defensive backs. Graded out as one of the top-50 prospects in Michigan according to 247 Sports.
Nick Bryan | Offensive line | 6-3 270| Pleasant Hills, PA | Thomas Jefferson
Played both offensive and defensive line for Thomas Jefferson, winning multiple state titles along the way. Named a first-team all-conference selection on offense, named to the PA Football News Coaches 4A all-state team, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette's Fabulous 22 and chosen to the Mon Valley Independent Finest 30 all-star team.
Stephen Daley | Defensive line | 6-2 240| Winchester, VA | John Handley
Named the 4c Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 as well as all-state honors on both sides of the ball. Daley helped the Judges to a 9-3 record and a 6-1 record in conference play. A three-sport athlete, he finished third in the state in the 100-meter dash and fifth in the discus and helped the basketball team reach the state finals.
Tyler Dostin | Tight End | 6-3 230| Danville, IN | Danville
Named All-State each of the last two years and helped Danville go a combined 21-3 in his junior and senior seasons. Also named first-team all-conference and a member of the Indiana Preps top-22. Totaled 145 catches for 1710 yards and 24 touchdowns during his high school career.
Gavin Garcia | Running Back | 5-8 170| Catawissa, PA | Southern Columbia
Helped Southern Columbia win four state titles during his high school career. Finished his high school career with over 130 touchdowns, the second-most in Pennsylvania history. Ran for over 2000 yards as a senior and 1,921 yards as a junior.
Jameel Gardner Jr.| Wide Receiver | 6-1 170| Detroit, MI | Cass Technical
An all-region wide receiver out of Detroit. Helped the Technicians to a 12-2 record and a deep run into the Michigan state playoffs. Named second-team all-state as a senior. As a junior, caught 32 passes for 584 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Jahmad Harmon | Defensive Back | 6-0 175| Indianapolis, IN | Lawrence Central
Name all-state, first-team all-conference and first-team all-county as a senior. Recorded 56 tackles including 45 solo. He was credited with nine passes defended including three interceptions. Harmon also played a huge role in special teams, blocking three kicks this season.
Trell Harris | Wide Receiver | 6-1 185| La Grange, IL | Nazareth Academy
Harris was named all-state and the conference player of the year for Nazareth Academy. Harris brought in 54 passes for 870 yards and 12 touchdowns. Harris was a weapon in the return game as well, amassing 750 return yards on the season with six return touchdowns.
Mohammed Hazime | Tight End | 6-5 245| Dearborn, MI | Fordson
Hazime was extremely versatile for the Fordson Tractors, playing both tight end and offensive line on offense and defensive line. Helped the Tractors go 9-2 this season, rated as a three-star tight end by multiple outlets.
Justin Holmes | Tight End | 6-3 220| Kutztown, PA | NW Lehigh
Played all over the field in high school including at receiver and quarterback for the Tigers. Helped Northwest Lehigh to a 11-1 season. Passed for over 1300 yards and 18 touchdowns and ran for over 1300 yards with 20 scores. Also caught a touchdown pass and made 63 stops on defense with six sacks.
John Jackson | Defensive End | 6-3 260| Barberton, OH | Barberton
Helped the Magics go 10-2 on the season and into the second round of the state playoffs as a senior. Jackson had 67 tackles (45 solos) during a junior season that included seven tackles for loss and one interception and had 47 tackles (39 solos) as a sophomore with eight tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles.
Devin Kargman | Quarterback | 6-3 220| Camden, NJ | Woodrow Wilson
He was named to the all-public team by Jersey Sports Zone, helping Woodrow Wilson to a 9-3 record. Threw for nearly 2800 yards and had a 25:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Threw for nearly 8,000 yards and 77 touchdowns in his high school career.
Garrett Masterson | Offensive Line | 6-7 300| Lapeer, MI | Lapeer
A three-star offensive lineman out of Lapeer, Michigan, north of Detroit. Helped the Lightning average over 38 points per game this season and a 7-3 campaign. The 38 points per game are the most for the Lightning since 2014.
Chrishon McCray | Wide Receiver | 5-10 170| Avon, IN | Avon
McCray did a little bit of everything for the Avon Orioles in his high school career. McCray ran for over 1300 yards and 11 touchdowns in his Oriole career and had over 1600 yards receiving with 18 touchdowns. All 18 scores through the air and 1300 yards came during his senior campaign.
Mason Mennell | Offensive Line | 6-4 300| Stow, OH| Stow-Munroe Falls
Mennell stays home and makes the short trip from Stow to Kent. He's an All-Suburban League lineman that helped the Bulldogs go 9-3 in 2021 and average over 32 points per game. Rated a three-star lineman by multiple outlets.
Dustyn Morrell | Offensive Line | 6-5 265| Lapeer, MI | Lapeer
Morrell joins Lapeer teammate and offensive line-mate Garrett Masterson. A three-star lineman from numerous outlets, Morrell helped the Lightning score 38 points per game and a seven-win season.
Nolan Rumler | Offensive Lineman | 6-3 315| Kent, Ohio | Archbishop Hoban (Michigan)
Rumler comes back to Kent State from the University of Michigan. Rumler saw action in parts of two seasons with the Wolverines. At Archbishop Hoban, he was named All-Ohio three times and a Max Preps All-American twice. He earned an invite to play in the 2019 Under Armour All-American game and helped Hoban win four state titles including an undefeated season in 2018.
Players Mentioned
